"As long as I can I will look at this world for both of us. As long as I can I will laugh with the birds, I will sing with the flowers, I will pray to the stars, for both of us"

Sascha

"You mean England can see you?"

The staunching heat of the summer glazed down upon them as Spain and Romano sat upon the hill. The sun beat down relentlessly, for once embracing them in the bright sunshine after so many days of cloudy darkness. It hung, white and blinding, alone in the sky, a solitary break in the endless blue, the occasional wisp of a cloud the only thing daring to penetrate the harmony. Its rays burned down on the city of Rome, on the ant sized people wondering through the tiny streets, on the glistening roofs of houses and buildings as people sought refuge beneath them from the heat. It reflected through the streets, off the rustic coloured buildings, giving the whole city a glow that only a city viewed at sunset normally had, the blazing orange of an autumn wood.

This time of day always brought out the lazy side of the city. No one was busy, no one was in a hurry, even the usual bustling Italian chatter that bounced of the walls of the streets and into the air seemed leisurely this afternoon. The heat hung heavy in the air, humid and suffocating after the days and days of cloud and rain before, tiring people out, drawing out their idle side, forcing them to hide in the shade until the day passed into the cool evening. Air conditioners blasted cold air into any and every available building.

Romano had loved the hill he sat on now for as long he could remember. It had always been there, the precious home of so many memories, somewhere he could always rely on to bring him peace of mind. He had watched his capital learn and grow from here, the perfect viewing spot to observe the beautiful city. There were so many memories of him and his brother in this idyllic spot, the green grass, the shining city below, in the blazing sun, under the shining moon. But now, it all seemed different, distant, as though he wasn't really there, as though looking at the world through frosted glass. It tainted darkly his beautiful memories of the place.

"Yes."

It was all Romano could say in answer to Spain's question; he was too distracted to keep the conversation going.

Spain groaned quietly to himself, falling back onto the ground so he stared at the sky. He ran his hand through his wavy, brown hair; something Romano knew he always did when he was stressed.

Romano's mind wondered, being drawn easily to the dramatic events of that morning. He thought of his brother and the disappointment that had choked at him in his discovery of the truth that he no longer held any connection with him. He thought of Spain, how he had confessed shakily what had been grinding at Romano's mind, desperately thinking of answers to the question, throughout the past month as Spain had persistently, painfully, denied any existence of Romano, as he had put himself through the torture and suffering of no longer having his only love by his side. Even now the Spaniard knew Romano was here, could still be with him through everything, a guardian angel – or devil – always watching, always keeping him on the right side of sanity, keeping his heart from shattering, Spain didn't seem right, still broken, still shattered, as though Romano could only provide the glue, not the hands to piece him back together.

"Why England though? What does he have to do with any of this?"

Spain's venom filled voice sliced through Romano's thoughts again, speaking loud, filled with all his hatred for the Brit. Romano could see he was drawing attention, near by people turning heads and giving them (or him) odd looks, as though Spain had completely lost his mind. It boiled Romano's anger at every look glanced their way; having to remind himself every time that he could do nothing to stop them – he was only a ghost after all. He would've taken a lot of pleasure in marching up to them and teaching them the true meaning of respect.

Spain didn't care though. He carried on talking to Romano as if he were the only thing that mattered in the world any more. To him, he probably was.

"Maybe it's just a coincidence," Romano said flatly, only half interested in the conversation, "France did say we shouldn't believe him."

Romano stared out across the city, still lost in his chaos of thoughts. He let out a defeated sigh, again, always, reminded with a sharp slap that the city was no longer his, no longer where he belonged, just another city in his mind, just another reminder that he was dead.

"Are you okay, Roma? You seem a little...off."

Spain's worried green eyes caught Romano's attention, for once shattering his lonesome thoughts and bringing a smile to his face at Spain's concern. He hid it behind another frown, whether Spain could see him or not.

"I don't know..."

Romano was hesitant to answer truthfully, his initial impulse to brush Spain's question casually to the side. But he was learning slowly that that was not the answer anymore. Brushing problems to the side, as if they were just dust, solved nothing, if anything it made them worse, allowing them to fester and grow until they were to painful to deal with, until there was no longer a solution. It didn't help that Spain was the only person he could talk to about it.

"Things just don't seem right... Nothing seems right. The world's moving on without me and here I am stuck as a ghost. Part of me thinks I'm not even supposed to be here."

A twang of fear flickered through Spain's expression, but it was hidden too fast for Romano to understand what it was about. Instead, the Spaniard held out his hand to Romano, his eyes unfocused, forever searching for his lost love.

"Well you are here so you must be here for a reason. My guess is that reason is me."

A small, encouraging smile spread across Spain's face. Romano felt his heart lighten at the sight. He couldn't believe how much he had taken those gracious smiles for granted. They were his salvation, a twinkling star shining in the dimming night.

But Romano stayed still, not reaching out for Spain's hand, not convinced by Spain's answer. Something inside of him told him it was wrong.

After a moment, Spain frowned, lowering his hand at Romano's silence. It was a tense moment before he spoke again.

"I wish I could touch you again," Spain muttered, failing to hide the agony in his voice as he spoke the words. "Or just to see your cute, little face blush like a tomato one more time, or your sweet smile, or your eyes... Memories just seem pathetic compared to the real you."

Romano felt his face flush bright red, hiding his smile in the irony of Spain's words. It was nice to hear him voice those thoughts, the same ones that Romano had wished every moment of his ghostly life, the wishes that had been pulling at his dreams since it had happened, the delicate whispers of hopes that had circled tauntingly around him. It made him realise how much it ached in him not to have those simple things, simple things that all couples should have, to look into each other's eyes, to hold each other's hands.

Although, they could hardly be called a couple anymore.

Until death do us part...

It at least let him know that Spain still felt the same way about him that he always had. Romano still couldn't decide if that was a good thing or not.

"Me t-too," Romano stuttered, his voice quiet in the irrelevant chattering of the people that surrounded them on the hill. He closed his eyes and desperately tried to bring back the memory of their last and final kiss, the way it had felt, Spain's soft lips against his own, the way their tongues danced together, the amazing feeling of infinite warmth and love that had always spread through him with every one of his sweet kisses, chaste or not, the disappointing briefness of it in such a rushed moment. If it were up to him he would have stayed in Spain's arms forever. It seemed a too distant memory now. It physically tore at him how much he missed it.

And he would never be able to feel it again.

Romano shook his head, not able to handle the pain that tore through him with the damning thoughts. He tried to turn back to his original thought track, he tried to think of any possible reason for him to still be here in the world. It was a good enough distraction – for now at least.

No, he knew his purpose here couldn't be Spain alone, it just didn't feel right to him. Why would they put him here just to help ease someone's grief, when it had been cause by him leaving in the first place? It had to be something else, something more complicated, something that involved his past life, his wishes, his dreams, his goodbyes...

An idea began to sprout, grow and form in his head, like the branches and leaves of a tree growing ever higher, ever wider, ever more twisted and complicated. What if... Maybe...

He heard Spain sigh from beside him, obviously put off by Romano's thoughtful silence. When the Italian looked over to him again he lay on the grass peacefully, his eyes closed, his hands resting gently on his stomach, breathing softly in the warm sunshine. A siesta, probably what most of the city's population below was doing as well.

Romano stared at him thoughtfully, his original idea seeming more and more plausible the more he thought about it, letting it twist and shape in his mind until it seemed the only reasonable explanation to him. Seeing Spain like this, so content and peaceful – at least compared to how he was before – able to sleep without nightmares, able to talk and open himself up, able to leave some of that pain behind, made it root all that more in his mind.

It was plausible at least, and, considering it was his best idea yet – his only idea – as to why he was here in the first place, it made sense for him to follow it. Besides, something inside of him just told him he was right.

He thought that perhaps he was here simply to make closure, to give himself and all those around him a peace of mind after what had happened, to say his final goodbyes to all that had suffered so much from his sudden death.

It settled his mind. Having a reason, a purpose in life, giving him something to hope for, something to live for. It was better than being an invisible nuisance, dragging forever behind Spain as a shadow to his grief.

He let a satisfied smile slip onto his face.

Yet another not (too) sad chapter coming from me. WHAT IS THIS SORCERY?!

But anyways, I hope you enjoy the chapter and that, even though it was pretty short compared to the others, you still loved it and felt the need to leave awesome reviews behind because they just make me feel so happy all the time ^_^

Thank you to everyone who reviewed and favourited and even read this for in the story because I seriously love you all for supporting me so much and without you, this story would be no where. Thank you all! *gives out free love and cookies and rainbows an happiness*

And another thing, a lot of you are asking about how Romano died. I'm afraid I am not liable to tell you at this point. Might ruin the surprise ;)